The AP Biodiversity Board wants to claim royalty for the Brahma or Brahman bull, a species taken from Ongole and being bred widely in Brazil, the US and Australia for the last 100 years. The bull, scientifically known as Bos indicus, is in great demand because it is known to be resistant to foot and mouth disease and for it tasty meat.
Biodiversity board chairman Dr R. Hampaiah who returned from Brazil after attending a conference on biodiversity, said steps are being initiated for breeders’ associations of countries using the Brahma bull to share benefits. Ironically, farmers from AP associated with an NGO, as well as from other parts of India, are going to the World Brahma Bull Congress in Panama in July to buy bulls bred abroad.
“An NGO called Ankush based in Himayatnagar has approached us for buying Brahma bulls from this congress and sought the permission of the animal husbandry department for importing the cattle,” said Dr Hampaiah. He added, “We have to apply for the geographical indicator (a WTO requirement to prove ethnicity) for the Ongole bull.” Ongole bulls are found in the geographical area between the Gundlakamma and Alluru rivers in Ongole and Kandukur mandals. “The Brahma cow gives 45 litres of milk a day. There are restaurants with Brahma bull beef on the menu in Brazil and the US. Under the AP Biodiversity Act, we have the right to claim royalty.”